Kanye West’s Yeezy website went offline following a recent controversy over its merchandise. Visitors now see error messages, and Shopify, the platform hosting the store, removed it for violating its policies. The shutdown followed West’s surprise Super Bowl ad, which directed traffic to the site.
Let’s break down what happened, the response from Shopify, and the broader impact of the situation.
What happened to Kanye West’s Yeezy website?
Kanye West’s Yeezy.com website is no longer accessible after the rapper listed a swastika T-shirt for sale. Visitors to the website now encounter error messages such as “something went wrong” and “this store is unavailable.” The e-commerce platform Shopify had been hosting the site but later removed it.
Shopify confirmed the removal, stating that all merchants must adhere to platform rules. The company said West’s store violated its terms by not engaging in authentic commerce practices. This action came after West aired a surprise Super Bowl commercial in Los Angeles, promoting Yeezy.com. The advertisement, filmed on an iPhone, showed West in a dentist’s chair urging viewers to visit the website, where the swastika T-shirt was the only product listed for $20.
The ad ran on three Fox-owned stations, including KTTV Los Angeles. Insiders told Variety that the commercial had passed legal approval because the 30-second clip itself contained no standards violations. However, Shopify faced backlash for hosting Yeezy.com while it was selling the controversial shirt, leading to the platform’s decision to take the site down.
West’s website shutdown follows his deactivation from X (formerly Twitter) after multiple posts containing antisemitic, misogynistic, and pornographic content. Days before his account was taken down, West declared, “I’m a Nazi” and praised Hitler.
His comments were widely criticized by groups such as the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee (via Variety). Public figures, including David Schwimmer, called on Elon Musk to remove West from X.
The removal of Yeezy.com is the latest in a series of actions taken against West by platforms and companies in response to his recent statements and activities.
